Dust cap or the like



July 17, 1923.

E. V. MYERS DUST GAP 0R THE LI'KE Original Filed July 251 1919 xNvENToR 2&6 ff

WITNESS:

lil

.luly l?, w23..

enthlt @Allllrlll EUG-ENE V. MYERS, 0l? MST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY,

NRPRATED, Gle" BRGOYN, NEW YGRK, il.

ASSEGNGR T0 A. SHEB Still, CORPORATIN 0F NEW YER.

nner one on 'run Linn.

Application nled luly 25, wie, Serial Ilo. 313,114.6.

This invention relates to dust ca or the like, and aims to provide certain improvements therein.

The invention is particularly directed to dust caps :tor tire valves of the nick detachable type. ln the preferred erin, the invention comprises a dust cap having means for frictionally engaging the valve stem ortho threads thereof, so that it is capable of being applied by sliding it `down over the stem and of being removed by a sliding movement in the contrary direction.

ln an a plication iiled by me on even date herewith Serial No. 313,145 l have described a construction in which the cap is provided with a series of spring arms, moans being' provided for limiting the outward action thereof in order to prevent overstraining ot the arms by inadvertent tilting movement of the cap during the act of applying or ref` moving the same.

According to the prent invention l provide a construction in which there are a series of spring arms, but instead ot such arms being continued to the bottom of the cap, lf form the arms above the bottom so that the lower edge oi the cap comprises an integral portion circularly intact, whereby strains occasioned by tilting of the cap are taken up by the foot thereof, and the springarms are thereby prevented from overstraining or undue bendin Preferably also, the arms are enclosed by a sleeve which acts to prevent ingress ot dirt or dust through the slots made b the itormation ot' the arms, and also ten' s to reinforce the ring at the bottom, and also assists in preventing the overstraining of the arms, particularly in certain positions of the cap. The invention includes other features ot improvement which will be hereinafter referred to.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one torni of the invention,-

Figure l is an elevation of the complete gig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereoil showing the same as applied to a tire valve;

. According to oot Renewed September al, 1922. &rlal to. tlbll.

u Fig. 3 is an in section;

lF 1g. l is a cross-section taken on the line l-t 1n llig. 2. y Referring to the drawings, let A indicate the cap as a whole, which is shown as formed of longitudinal sections B' and C united at y overlapping Hanges. This construction'of cap per se forms no part of the reseitit invention, it being the invention ot ano er.

elevation showing the sleeve the present invention l'provide at the of the cap a series of spring arms E which are preferably formed by cutting out tongues from the metal forming the cap body and bending them inwardly to a suii'icient extent to engagethe tire valve stem or casing. rl`he inner face ot the tongues may be smooth or roughened, or et other' shape such as will permit them to enlll gage the threads of the valve so as to slide .,thereon. Preferably the ends of the tongues are bent outwardly as shown at l?, to facilitate the engagement of the cap as it is moved past the top G of the tire valve casing.

According to the present invention there is left at'the bottom of the cap an annular section or ring H which is integrally connected with the body of the cap by strips l. 'lhe rin ll is, in the case ot e drawn cap, circular y intact, and in the case of the two-part cap shown, is cut only in two places, the semi-circular sections thus lett retaining a very considerable amount ot3 rigidity. `When the cap is applied at the top of the valve casing particularly, there is a danger that in the hands of inexperr' enced users it may be tilted forcibly to one side. When this is done, betere the s ring arms have been bent past their elastic inuit, the ring H contacts with the valve stem and prevents further movement such as` would tend to permanently distort the spring arme.

According to the present invention l provide a cover for the foot portion oit the cap, which has the ellect of preventin ingress of dust and moisture through the s ots mede in the formation ot the tongue.. Such cover is indicated at nl, and may be connected with the cap portion in arg suitable manner, as by forming a groove in the cap structure and turning the upper edge L into such ove..

'lhe sleeve il also has the function oi l forming a`reintorcing part fior the ring lil ill@ reo ino

-further arms, thereby assisting in preventing overso as to assist in bearing the strains, and constitutes a stop for the spring arms.

2. A dust cap for tire valves or the like havin a series of spring arms formed integral y of the metal of the cap, and an integral ring portion beneath said spring arms.

3. A dust cap for tire valves or the like comprising a cap portion having a series of integral spring arms, a ring portion beneath said spring arms, and a lon tudinally fixed sleeve surroundin said spring arms.

4. Ay dust cap or tire valves or the like comprising a cap portion having a series of lof spring Menem spring arms, an integral ring beneath said spring arms, vand means for limiting the outward movement of said spring arms.

5. A dust cap for tire valves or the like comprising a cap portion having a series o spring arms, an integral ring beneath said spring arms, and means for limiting the outward movement of saidspring arms, said means comprising a sleeve connected to the cap alcove said arms. Y

6. In a dust cap fortire valves or the like comprising a cap portion having a series arms normally extending in a radial direction suiiiciently to make a frictional contact with a tire valve casin a lower ring portion, and a cover surroun ing said spring arms.

7 A dust cap for tire valves, or the like, having a series of normally contracted integral spring arms extending downwardly therefrom and adapted to irictionally engage the threads of a valve stem upon being applied thereover, and means for limiting the outward bending of said arms.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EUGENE V. MYERS, 

